Super Delicious Lemon Marinade for Chicken
This Lemon Marinade for Chicken is anything but boring—it's absolutely packed with flavor! It’s one of our favorite lemon recipes, made with fresh ingredients like garlic, lemon juice, and a mix of herbs (dried works in a pinch!). The marinade keeps the chicken juicy and tender, with just a touch of natural sweetness to balance out the zesty tang.
Servings: 6
Calories: 315kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3-4 chicken breasts cut in half horizontally (about 3 lbs)
- ½ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest about 1-2 large lemon
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice about 1-2 large lemon
- 3 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 cup fresh basil loosely packed, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place marinade ingredients in a bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined.3-4 chicken breasts, ½ cup olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon zest, 3 tbsp lemon juice, 3 tbsp minced garlic, 1 cup fresh basil, 1 tbsp fresh oregano, 1 tbsp fresh thyme, 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp mustard powder, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper
- Place prepped chicken in a zipper bag. Pour marinade ingredients directly into the bag. Seal well and shake/agitate the bag to coat chicken thoroughly. Marinade for 8-24 hours.
- Heat grill to medium-high heat (leave half the grill unheated). Grill the first side of chicken for 5-6 minutes until the edges begin to dry and change color. Flip and grill for 4-6 minutes longer. If chicken begins to brown too much, move the chicken to the unheated side of the grill. Close the lid and allow it to finish cooking.
- Remove from the grill and allow to rest for a few minutes, then serve.
Notes
Tips & Tricks
- Use fresh lemon juice instead of pre-bottled juice. There is no substitution for fresh citrus.
- Money saving tip: Buy the packet of fresh herbs in the produce section labeled "poultry seasoning". It should have sage, thyme and rosemary in it.
- For the most flavor, marinate the chicken overnight (up to 24 hours) or freeze it in the marinade (my personal favorite!).
- The best tip for keeping chicken juicy while grilling is to create a two-zone cooking fire. One side is medium to medium-high heat and the other side is low heat. If the outside of the chicken is getting done too quickly, move it over to the low side until it has finished cooking.
- Double and freeze for later
Nutrition
Serving: 1piece | Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 521mg | Potassium: 485mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 327IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg
